Shipping device



Sept. 22, 1936. PLEASANTS; JR v 2,055,305

SHIPPING DEVICE Filed July 6, 1934 LENDING L|BRARY,,

STONE HARBOR,

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED J-STATE -S PATENT OFFICE,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to shipping devices or con tainers. The object istoprovide improved means for shipping merchandise such as books, and isespecially applicable to shipping books, to and 5 from the reader, withthe minimum of inconvenience as to addresses and postage.

The invention comprises a container made of light durable material,preferably of telescoping parts, such as will insure the books againstinjury in transit, and which shall require no supplemental wrappings.Vulcanized fibre is an example of such material.

In accordance with thepresent example, the outside of the container isprovided with two receptacles, frames or card holders for removablyinserting two cards, one card for each frame, On one side of onecard,whichis called the address card, is provided the name and addressof the reader or customer; and on the other side is provided the nameand address of the sender, merchant or library, such as a lendinglibrary. This receptacle or card holder for the address card, ispreferably provided with a protecting sheet of transparent material,such as Cellophane or celluloid.

When sending the package to the customer, the side of the card retaininghis name and address is exposed to view; when returning the book orother merchandise, the card is turned over, exposing the name andaddress of the original sender.

Upon each side of the other card are placed stamps to cover the postagefor each direction of travel. In returning the package this stampedcardis removed from its frame, reversed and reinserted in its frame toexpose the postage for the return trip. By such a device all that thecustomer is required to do is simply to reverse the address card and thepostage card in returning the book, thus avoiding trouble andpossibility of error in the shipments. The stampcontaining card is notcovered but is so exposed that the stamps may be readily canceled.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of examplesuitable means for the embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 1 is a plan View.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the reverse side of the address card.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective on a reduced scale.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the example illustrated, the container comprises two telescopingsections 6 and 1. Upon the outer surface of section 6 are provided twoframes or card holders 8 and 9. A strap I is provided, preferablysecured to the bottom of section I by any suitable formation or keeperas H, through which the strap may slide. The strap is provided with thebuckle I2, whereby the elements or sections 6 and I may be held togetherwith suitable pressure to prevent movement therein of the contents, suchas a book.

The frames 8 and 9 are provided with any suitable securing means, suchas l3 and M, for locking the cards in the frames.

In accordance with one example, the lever I3 is pivoted as at ll to theframe 8, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower free end of this lever I3 isadapted to snap under an offset portion l8 of the frame,'thus holdingthe card firmly in locked position. In another example a stud 14, oftype usually found in glove fasteners, is shown. By such means the cardscan be secured in position or changed, without affecting, interferingwith or being dependent upon the closing means of the container.

The card l5, secured in frame 8, is provided on one side with the nameand address of the customer, as indicated in Fig. 1. On the other sideit is provided with the name and address of the library sending the bookto the customer, as indicated in Fig. 3.

A sheet of transparent material is preferably provided to cover andprotect the card. in frame 8.

The card I6, removably secured in frame or card holder 9, is blank andis provided on each side with postage stamps in requisite amount forpaying the cost of transportation by mail.

When the customer has received the container, the stamps secured to cardI 6 and exposed to view,

will have been canceled.

When the customer has finished with the book he replaces the same in thecontainer and reverses the cards l5 and I6, so that the name and addressof the library, and the uncanceled stamps will be exposed to view. Sothat after delivering the same to the post office, the package will bereturned to the library.

It should be noted that the address card may be used indefinitely inshipping books, or the like, to and from the customer. For this reason,it is deemed preferable to cover the card with transparent material andalso to provide the more effective locking device for the frame orhousing which retains this card. 7

The other card, the purpose of which is to carry to the outer surface ofthe container.

the necessary postage for shipment to and from the customer, must beopen or exposed for purposes of cancellation, and may be discarded afterthe outward and return trip. It is therefore desirable that thispostage-carrying card should be disassociated from and independent ofthe address card, the address card being of more importance, especiallyto prevent loss of the package. In view of the above circumstances theretaining means associated with the postage carrying card is peculiar inits simplicity and efiic'iency.

In the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the postage card retaineror housing 9 is made of a slightly resilient fiber sheet having flangeson both sides and at one end for clamping or riveting The part betweenthe flanges is embossed or raised into a plane above that of the flangesto provide space for receiving the card, and a window opening isprovided in this raised part for exposing the card as and for thepurpose described. This card should be readily inserted andwithdrawn'from its normal position, but at the same time secured againstaccidental displacement. For this purpose a post I4, is provided similarto that used in the common snap glove fastener. This post has its basefastened to the middle part of the raised front portion of the frame; sothat the head end of the post will rest in close proximity to, or uponthe surface of the container. When it is desired to insert or withdrawthe card, it is only necessary to lift the portion of the frame which isadjacent the post, to separate the head slightly from the surface of thecontainer which is beneath. Upon releasing the same, the post isreturned to the securing position. The above description is only meantas an example of various uses to which the invention may be applied.

What I claim is:

In a device of the character described, a body providing a fiat outersurface, a rectangular frame of sheet material having three marginalflanges in a plane parallel with but offset from the plane of the mainframe, said flanges secured to said fiat surface, so that the mainportion of the frame is spaced from said flat surface to admit theinsertion and removal to and from the frame of a card, and a postsecured to and extending from the underside of the frame near theunflanged margin and midway its extension, said post having a roundedfree end yieldingly held in such close proximity to the said flatsurface as normally to project into the path of travel of the card.

HENRY PLEASANTS, JR.

